mercredi 5 décembre 2012

In Sweden, bus stops offer light therapy

Umeå Energi has replaced bus stop advertising boards with
therapeutic illumination, hoping to tackle instances of winter
depression.
Hot on the heels of our coverage of Re-Timer,
a light-emitting device that aims to help users readjust their
bodyclocks, we’ve stumbled across another innovative use of light.
Swedish firm Umeå Energi has replaced bus stop advertising boards with therapeutic illumination, hoping to tackle instances of winter depression.

Considering some reports
suggest that the prevalence of seasonal affective disorders can reach
as high as 9.5 percent of the population in regions such as Scandinavia,
it seems that light is important for keeping a healthy balance of
hormones in the brain. With this is in mind, the company has installed
lamps that replicate daylight at 26 bus stops around the town. The bulbs
are similar to those used in phototherapy and do not emit ultra-violet
rays – they will be in place for three weeks.
Although part of a temporary campaign, could governments employ a
similar idea to help boost the moods of citizens during the winter?